(L-R) AIPS President Gianni Merlo, European Lotteries President Friedrich Stickler and AIPS Treasurer and Sports Media Austria President Michael Kuhn at the match fixing seminar in Vienna.Photo/Günter Pfeistlinger

by Josef Langer, Secretary General Sports Media Austria

VIENNA,
June 23, 2013 - A retired football player approaches 2 to 4 players of the same
team (goalkeeper, defenders, striker). He proposes money (for example,€ 30,000) to lose with a significant goal
difference (at least 5 goals) against the championship’s leader. 20 punters
working with the match fixer bet (€ 5,000 each) with 20 different bookmakers in
Asia. They bet on a difference of 5 goals or more (odds: 15). The game ends
with a 6:1 result.

This
is just one scenario of thousands that happen every day the world over. Match fixing
is posing a huge problem in sports. In
fact, it is a problem far worse than doping. The World Lottery Association (WLA)
is on a mission to bring this information to the attention of the world. And its
strategy is to engage the support and cooperation of the media. That is the
reason why WLA and the European Lotteries (ELsports) are collaborating with AIPS.

On
Fridau June 21 a day-long seminar was hosted by ELsports in Vienna with guests
invited by AIPS (represented by president Gianni Merlo) and Sports Media
Austria (represented by president Michael Kuhn).

The
Austrian president of European Lotteries, Friedrich Stickler said: „A few days
ago Europol published 680 actual cases – but this is only the tip of the iceberg.

“Unlawful
sports bets worldwide are responsible for between 400 and 500 billion euros of
turnover and it is estimated that 80% of the sport betting market is illegal,"
Mr Stickler added.

But
this illegal "business" can generate a huge amount of money.

Here
is an example of just one case:

Expenses (€ 250.000) - fixers’ travel &
accommodation 10,000; bribes for the players 120,000; 20 punters betting
5,000 each is a total of 100,000; punters’ salaries are estimated at 10,000Winnings – 100,000 x 15 (estimate) = Euro 1,500,000And the profits of just this one case will be in
the vicinity ofEuro 1,250,000

And
Stickler warned: "It is a vicious circle. If a person was involved just once they
remain susceptibleto blackmail, and then there is no possibility of
escaping."

Match
fixing expert and consultant to the European Lotteries, Frenchman Christian Kalb
told seminar delegates: "There are between 5,000 and 10,000 betting companies
worldwide. More than 80 percent of the betting sales are illegal. To win this
fight, we have to work all together - FIFA, UEFA, other sport federations, the
police and the media. It
will be a very tough and long fight."